Dirty, smelly, infested tank

Yiannis · 06-20-2012, 05:28 AM

Hello,

even though I have put my heart and soul in this tank, sometimes things are going well but now they are going bad.

Just a quick summary: 70L, Eleocharis Parvulus, clay based substrate, 24W T5HO 7.5 hours a day, no fish, fluval external filter 1000 L/h, EI dosing regime which I know doubled the daily dosing amount to increase rate of plant growth, 1 weekly water change more than 60%, pressurized co2 system that is a bit unstable so I am changing it, 15ml Excel dosing daily. Eleocharis Parvula is spreading slowly but steadily and only algae problem left is green dust algae. Did I miss anything?

My current observations are what lead to this post:
1. No fauna thus no feeding at all but present are many small snails...shouldn't they have starved to death by now?
2. My tank does not have an earthly/healthy smell by all means. It ricks of fish smell something that gives out something is wrong.
3. I see many small squiggly creatures running up and down my tank glass.
4. Lots and lots of mulm on the aquarium gravel no matter how much I remove.
5. Green dust algae. I left it alone just like Tom Barr suggested.
6. I have spotted some cyanobacteria, removed it immediately. This blue green algae showed up the weekend I was away and didn't dose Excel or macros/micros so I guess that if the tank is left alone for a couple of days and starts to show signs of algae, then this is a ticking time-bomb that I am keeping at bay with all my efforts.

Any thoughts on how to overcome all of the above?

Thanks people...

HD Blazingwolf · 06-20-2012, 01:13 PM

if u have pressurized c02. just up ur c02. stop dosing excel. its a disinfectant. it affects bacteria in the tank
cyanobacteria is a sign of poor biological filtration. increase oxygen levels by adding surface agitation..
the mulm buildup is also a good sign of poor filtration. it will happen over time, period, but the fact that u can't get rid of it is a clear sign
clean ur filter a couple times over the next few weeks by rinsing in drained tank water

and again add surface agitation.. u need more oxygen to help support healthy bacerial growth

**mistergreen** · 06-20-2012, 02:26 PM

How old is your tank? Did you recently added driftwood?

Try vacuum deep into your substrate.

Yiannis · 06-20-2012, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistergreen

How old is your tank? Did you recently added driftwood?

Try vacuum deep into your substrate.

Its about a year old.

There is no driftwood in the tank.

I can't vacuum the substrate since it is partly planted with Eleocharis Parvula.

Thanks

salmon · 06-20-2012, 10:14 PM

The squiggly critters are likely copepods which aren't a bad thing, sign of a healthy system and they make for free fish food when you add them.

The smell thing could be related to a protein film on the surface, usually not a pleasant smell. Do you notice a film on the surface? If so, Increasing surface agitation will help that. Increasing flow helps against BGA and mulm build up.

Just some thoughts, take them with a grain of salt, I'm no guru by any means.....just trying to convey some helpful ideas

Yiannis · 06-21-2012, 05:15 AM

Since I have no fauna, I have blasted the CO2 to very high levels. This has killed off several snails but also ensures better plant growth.

Today I will perform a midweek water change of over 60% and clean my filter.

I have now decreased Excel dosing from 15ml to 10ml a day.

I am now concerned water flow is inadequate even though filter power is very good. My drop checker colour which is at the bottom of the tank on the opposite corner of the filter INPUT has a colour yellow so CO2 is more than enough at gravel level. How would I better my circulation to avoid mulm?

CatB · 06-21-2012, 05:31 AM

if there's algae, that's why the snails haven't starved...
they can probably eat copepods too.

EDIT: 600TH POST!!!!!!!1!!!
(had to, sorry)

Yiannis · 06-21-2012, 06:55 AM

I will win this battle!!!!

Since I will do a large water change today and since I am dosing EI, I was thinking of doing the water change at night when lights are off, add macros and then add micros in the morning before lights on. So when lights are on both micros and macros will be present. I should see good growth the next couple of days, I am confident due to the CO2 increase!

06-20-2012, 05:28 AM	#1
Yiannis Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cyprus Posts: 100	Dirty, smelly, infested tank Hello, even though I have put my heart and soul in this tank, sometimes things are going well but now they are going bad. Just a quick summary: 70L, Eleocharis Parvulus, clay based substrate, 24W T5HO 7.5 hours a day, no fish, fluval external filter 1000 L/h, EI dosing regime which I know doubled the daily dosing amount to increase rate of plant growth, 1 weekly water change more than 60%, pressurized co2 system that is a bit unstable so I am changing it, 15ml Excel dosing daily. Eleocharis Parvula is spreading slowly but steadily and only algae problem left is green dust algae. Did I miss anything? My current observations are what lead to this post: 1. No fauna thus no feeding at all but present are many small snails...shouldn't they have starved to death by now? 2. My tank does not have an earthly/healthy smell by all means. It ricks of fish smell something that gives out something is wrong. 3. I see many small squiggly creatures running up and down my tank glass. 4. Lots and lots of mulm on the aquarium gravel no matter how much I remove. 5. Green dust algae. I left it alone just like Tom Barr suggested. 6. I have spotted some cyanobacteria, removed it immediately. This blue green algae showed up the weekend I was away and didn't dose Excel or macros/micros so I guess that if the tank is left alone for a couple of days and starts to show signs of algae, then this is a ticking time-bomb that I am keeping at bay with all my efforts. Any thoughts on how to overcome all of the above? Thanks people...

06-20-2012, 01:13 PM	#2
HD Blazingwolf Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: May 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 4,750	if u have pressurized c02. just up ur c02. stop dosing excel. its a disinfectant. it affects bacteria in the tank cyanobacteria is a sign of poor biological filtration. increase oxygen levels by adding surface agitation.. the mulm buildup is also a good sign of poor filtration. it will happen over time, period, but the fact that u can't get rid of it is a clear sign clean ur filter a couple times over the next few weeks by rinsing in drained tank water and again add surface agitation.. u need more oxygen to help support healthy bacerial growth __________________ Sump Pimp #7 75G Rainbowfish Journal

06-20-2012, 02:26 PM	#3
mistergreen Bow ties are cool (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 12,898	How old is your tank? Did you recently added driftwood? Try vacuum deep into your substrate. __________________ DIY High Tech Tank forum http://aquatictechtank.net A forum dedicated to design and program aquatic tanks

06-20-2012, 10:14 PM	#5
salmon Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: "Wet Coast" B.C. Posts: 541	The squiggly critters are likely copepods which aren't a bad thing, sign of a healthy system and they make for free fish food when you add them. The smell thing could be related to a protein film on the surface, usually not a pleasant smell. Do you notice a film on the surface? If so, Increasing surface agitation will help that. Increasing flow helps against BGA and mulm build up. Just some thoughts, take them with a grain of salt, I'm no guru by any means.....just trying to convey some helpful ideas __________________ Salmons ADA 75-P Rockscape on DSM / 13g Rimless / 12g Rimless Club / 12g rimless - not yet started / Cannon Pimp Club #009 -T3i

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06-21-2012, 05:15 AM	#6
Yiannis Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cyprus Posts: 100	Since I have no fauna, I have blasted the CO2 to very high levels. This has killed off several snails but also ensures better plant growth. Today I will perform a midweek water change of over 60% and clean my filter. I have now decreased Excel dosing from 15ml to 10ml a day. I am now concerned water flow is inadequate even though filter power is very good. My drop checker colour which is at the bottom of the tank on the opposite corner of the filter INPUT has a colour yellow so CO2 is more than enough at gravel level. How would I better my circulation to avoid mulm?

06-21-2012, 05:31 AM	#7
CatB Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,013	if there's algae, that's why the snails haven't starved... they can probably eat copepods too. EDIT: 600TH POST!!!!!!!1!!! (had to, sorry)

06-21-2012, 06:55 AM	#8
Yiannis Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cyprus Posts: 100	I will win this battle!!!! Since I will do a large water change today and since I am dosing EI, I was thinking of doing the water change at night when lights are off, add macros and then add micros in the morning before lights on. So when lights are on both micros and macros will be present. I should see good growth the next couple of days, I am confident due to the CO2 increase!